Empire of the Ants Reviews
Empire of the Ants is a true celebration of our natural world that just happens to be disguised as a real time strategy game.
Beautiful, contemplative and engaging, Empire of the Ants is a unique hybrid that will delight fans of the natural world.
Overall, Empire of the Ants is an experience that is perhaps less ambitious in terms of gameplay than others, but very satisfying in terms of making us "feel" like we are an ant . Seeing our sisters carrying food in a row, feeling the tension when a predator approaches... It is very interesting to immerse ourselves in the cycle of life, but without Timon and Pumba.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Empire of the Ants bends the boundaries between videogame and science communication. The use of the Ureal Engine 5 is critical to achieve an unbelievable level of photorealism that leads to full immersion into the huge tiny universe of ants. The light gameplay mechanics designed to be accessible to as many people as possible may alienate the hardcore players of strategy games though.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Empire of the Ants is an excellent game. This is one of those games that seemingly come out of nowhere but will likely be a beloved favourite for many gamers for years to come. While a lot of these gameplay aspects have been seen before in other games, the way they’re included here, through the eyes of an ant, can be quite unique. The visuals are outstanding and the music is brilliant. There are some challenges with controls and the camera, especially in confined spaces or when your ant is upside-down. And unfortunately, I didn’t get an opportunity to experience the multiplayer aspects. Fortunately, the single-player experience is overall so well done that I’d consider the multiplayer mode a nice bonus more than anything. If you’re looking for a unique gaming real-time strategy experience, then you really can’t go wrong with Empire of the Ants.
It can't decide if it wants to be an RTS or a platformer, so both areas feel like they're not achieving their full potential. The presentation is gorgeous and it's enjoyable thinking about the smaller creatures in our world differently, but Empire of the Ants tries to be too much at once. The multiplayer is fun for a time, but lacks the depth seasoned strategy players want. A focus on either the story or RTS would have helped a lot.
From a strategic point of view, the title is based on a simple and well-oiled structure, which unfortunately suffers from a basic redundancy caused by the lack of variety and the lack of depth inherent in the game situations, while the exploratory side is often plagued by problematic collision management that sometimes prevents you from fully enjoying the splendid scenarios.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Empire of the Ants offers entertaining real-time strategy in an exciting setting and looks stunning.
Review in German | Read full review
Many times those of us who have been in this world for several decades complain about the lack of originality and the constant reuse of old resources, well; Empire of the Ants is a truly original work despite the fact that the novel had already had a delivery in 2000 on PC, of very little popularity, but not even close to the level of realism and detail that is shown on this occasion.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
With its unique take on exploration and deep yet accessible combat mechanics, Empire of the Ants is a gripping masterpiece of an RTS that is wonderous to behold, making it one of 2024's greatest stand-outs.
While the graphics transport you to another world, the gameplay falls disappointingly short — leaving a taste in my mouth, I imagine, similar to how Ant-rid tastes to ants.
Empire of the Ants is not just an RTS but a true celebration of nature. The presentation, graphics and emotive music are nothing short of gorgeous, as is the gameplay (albeit simplified to be best handled via DualSense) which entertains, though lacking the depth that characterizes other exponents of the genre. Not to mention that it is really interesting to understand (by experiencing firsthand) the perspective of such tiny creatures doing anything to survive. It is a splendid example - in video game sauce - of how we too often take for granted what is outside our homes and how each of us should take a moment to appreciate the little things. Priced at €39.99, it is an experience we definitely feel like recommending!
Review in Italian | Read full review
Empire of the Ants is a welcome breath of fresh forest air in a genre that can always benefit from more nature-based simulators, and sets a well-earned standard for those looking to achieve a similar vision. The story is an enjoyable 20 or so hours inside a world that is fascinating to explore, and I think Bernard Werber would be proud of what Tower Five has accomplished.